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LOT 0362
Romanian Orthodox Royal Wooden Doors with Annunciation Scene
CIRCA 1750 A.D.
52 x 13 3/8 in (13.8 kg total, 132 x 34 cm each).
Each door a single board with graduated scalloped upper edge, horizontal wooden bars to the reverse, hand-forged iron hinge knuckles and D-section leader to left door; primed with tempera on both faces and painted on the obverse, each with a bottle-green field, blue-grey frontage with vermillion upper storey and gilt roof; Left Door: portion of city wall with tall, narrow building behind, balcony at the upper level with King David standing holding an unfurled scroll, wearing a gilt crown, vermillion tunic and blue mantle; before the wall a winged angel Gabriel holding a frond, wearing a draped mantle over ankle-length chiton and sandals; above, red painted legend 'BOUNA'; to the right edge, a D-section leader painted with red, white and blue diagonal stripes; Right Door: portion of city wall with tall, narrow building behind, balcony at the upper level with King Solomon standing holding a scroll and wearing a gilt crown, similar tunic and mantle to the other; dove descending towards Mary standing before the wall in front of a cushioned throne, with gilt nimbus around her head; red painted legend 'V E S T I R E' above; rare. [2]
ProvenanceProperty of a London, UK, gentleman collector.
Accompanied by a copy of a Romanian export licence.
Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12466-229954.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Cf. Popescu, G.A., Cristiani d'Oriente, spiritualità, arte e potere nell'Europa Post-Bizantina, Milano, 1999, fig.69, for similar; cf. also Baboș, A., ’Royal Doors of Maramures beyond their appearances’ in Museikon, a journal of Religious Art and Culture, 6/2022, pp.263-294, for similar doors and discussion.
FootnotesThe 'royal doors' (Greek: Ωραία Πύλη) mark the entrance to the iconostasis (wooden screen hiding the altar) in an Eastern Orthodox church.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0362
Romanian Orthodox Royal Wooden Doors with Annunciation Scene
Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,680
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Icon with Virgin and Child Eleousa
Russia, 18th century A.D.Estimate: £2,000 - 3,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £900
Rectangular wooden board with mounting slots to reverse, reserved border and reveal; painted image of Mary Eleousa (also called the 'Virgin of Tenderness'); nimbate Mary in golden robes cradling infant Jesus, with cheeks pressed together; 'MP' monogram at top left. 885 grams, 29.5 x 25 cm
Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12508-231941. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. -
Post Medieval Stained Glass Panel with Crown
16th-17th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £247
Rectangular panel in lead frame, painted with a crown with band of roundels at the brow and lozenge leaves with trefoils between. 94 grams, 11.6 cm
with De Baecque Vente Aux Encheres, 8 June 2023, no.511. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Probably the crown of a French marquis with strawberry leaves and pearl clusters. -
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Ethiopian Wooden Diptych Icon of the Virgin and Child with Gabra Manfus Qeddus and Saints
17th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,210
Portable shrine with geometric ornament and crosses to the outer face, opening doors to reveal a diptych with image of Mary Theotokos and Child, escorted by angels Gabriel and Michael with drawn swords, on the left; on the right, Abune Gabra Manfus Qeddus with hands raised, nimbate figures of Takla Haymanot and Ewostatewos with yellow and blue garments on the right; on the lower right corner Saint George (Bet Gorgis) killing the dragon. 453 grams, 21.8 x 19 cm
Sir Alistair McAlpine, circa 2000. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
In the Ethiopian icons, Gabra Manfas Qeddus (Servant of the Holy Spirit) the famous hermit whose sanctity tamed the wild beasts, is often represented. The exterior faces of these diptych panels, like the smaller bilateral diptychs of the 17th century, were carved with centralised cross designs that reflects the carved designs of contemporary wooden altar tablets.
